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* Earlier this week, Sen. Terry Link said the Senate Democratic staff was working with the governor’s office to devise legislation that reflected Gov. Pat Quinn’s wishes on the gaming expansion bill…
“Our staff has been working with (Quinn’s) staff to put together his ideas into real form. And all of his concepts will be put exactly into a bill form, exactly the way he wants it so it will be his bill that I will be presenting,” Link said.
That bill surfaced earlier today. Click here to read it.
* Despite Link’s claims, Gov. Quinn derided any effort to bring his ideas to the floor for a vote…
“We don’t need any charades. What we need is the Senate, which passed the bill on the 31st of May, to send the bill to the governor. Stop the game-playing, stop the delays or whatever else they’re doing over there.
“They passed their masterpiece on May 31. Bring it on. Make my day. And I’ll be happy to examine that bill and use the power of the governor’s office and the executive branch to send them how I feel about their bill.”
*** UPDATE 1 *** From the governor’s press office…
Hi Rich,
The bill that was introduced today is not a serious effort to address the Governor’s concerns about Senate Bill 744.
This is not “the Governor’s bill.” Instead of improving their current bill and having good faith discussions within the Governor’s framework amongst the House, the City of Chicago, the racing industry, the Gaming Board, and the Governor’s Office, some have chosen to put on a charade.
The Governor announced a framework – not a bill- for any gambling expansion last week. He will support a smaller, more moderate gambling expansion that prevents corruption and provides adequate revenue for education.
Governor Quinn looks forward to moving past the political games and towards sincere negotiations to reach a legitimate proposal that meets the framework he laid out to protect the interests of the people of Illinois.
*** UPDATE 2 *** From Senate President Cullerton’s spokesperson…
What part of 747 inaccurately reflects the Governor’s framework? Staff took care to consult with the Governors staff to ensure that the draft was an accurate interpretation of the Governor’s press packet.
The failure of the Governor to appropriately engage the legislature by submitting an actual bill for consideration brings us to the point we are today.
Oof.
*** UPDATE 3 *** Sen. Terry Link responds…
“The governor was making phone calls trying to get people supporting this before we even had a bill written, so he was already making phone calls and I think he already felt that there was a lot of people out there who didn’t have the willingness to vote for his concept,” Link said. “The governor probably knows the roll call already, and that’s why he’s denouncing it and saying ‘this is not my bill.’ Well, governor, if you really want something, sit down with us and work on it.”
* The Question: As long as the Senate bill accurately reflects the governor’s wishes, do you think it’s proper to bring this gaming legislation to the floor for a vote? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please. Thanks.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Oct 26, 11 @ 11:44 am
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
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Why not?
Comment by Homer J. Simpson Wednesday, Oct 26, 11 @ 11:49 am
Dear Governor Quinn,
We don’t need any charades. What we need is the Governor, who was sworn in last January to stop the game-playing, stop the delays, stop the grandstanding or whatever else he’s doing over there.
You created your masterpiece on October 17. Bring it on. Make my day. Engage the General Assembly and use the power of the governor’s office and the executive branch to pass your bill.
Comment by Jaded Wednesday, Oct 26, 11 @ 11:54 am
Always a good practice to take some of the medicine you’re dishing out.
Comment by Bitterman Wednesday, Oct 26, 11 @ 12:02 pm
absolutely. This governor and his legislative office need sto learn that if they have legislative ideas that they don’t become law by press release. Get in the game or get out of the way. We need the revenue and we need the jobs.
Comment by Spliff Wednesday, Oct 26, 11 @ 12:05 pm
Sure am glad that the Senate has nothing else to do but to play games.
Comment by Plutocrat03 Wednesday, Oct 26, 11 @ 12:11 pm
I voted yes. I cannot understand Gov. Quinn seems to completely remove himself from the development of legislation on major issues.
He was practically invisible during the legislative session and budget development last spring. He only shows up for press conferences to blast what he doesn’t like.
Like it or not, the lawmaking process has always been about compromises and he thinks he’s above that. Instead he resorts to threats and outright flip flops. I prefer deal making.
His style annoys me. If he is going to govern by press conference, why shouldn’t they take his talking points and run them as a bill. That’s what he said after all.
Comment by siriusly Wednesday, Oct 26, 11 @ 12:38 pm
“Bring it on. Make my day.”
Sounds a LOT like Blago, doesn’t it?
Comment by sal-says Wednesday, Oct 26, 11 @ 12:39 pm
It’s proper so long as it fails. It’s not a good and it’s a horrible idea to not have slots at racetracks.
Comment by Ahoy Wednesday, Oct 26, 11 @ 12:42 pm
Of course. Would the Governor call it a game if either the House or Senate allowed a bill that eliminated the GA scholarschip program come to a vote?
Comment by Anon Wednesday, Oct 26, 11 @ 12:42 pm
It would be “proper”, but not especially helpful to come to a resolution of this issue. It’s only result would be to drive the parties even farther apart.
Comment by walkinfool Wednesday, Oct 26, 11 @ 12:49 pm
I don’t fully understand the question, but I’ll just take the opposite side in the debate as Quinn. I’m probably safe, then…
Comment by Cincinnatus Wednesday, Oct 26, 11 @ 1:00 pm
Let the process proceed. The Gov needs to participate in the process and stop grand standing after all others have made a genuine effort to move the process forward.
I may not agree with all the gambling but I do think to Gov doth protest too much. Be part of the solution Gov, not a continued part of the problem.
Move on to the next issue!!
Comment by Justice Wednesday, Oct 26, 11 @ 1:01 pm
The gov needs to introduce his own bill already and stop messing around. Enough of the “framework” garbage. Put your plan out there in bill format. I don’t know if he thinks he can sit back and take shots and get away with the “this is not my plan” argument or what, but he needs to get serious. If you want to be involved in the legislative process, you need a bill. Get off the sidelines governor!
Comment by Time to go Wednesday, Oct 26, 11 @ 1:17 pm
It’s meaningless, but why not? A bill being just symbolic, or simply meaningless, or even outright deleterious and contrary to the public interest never stopped the General Assembly before, right?
But since the governor doesn’t seem the least bit bothered by the casinos ALREADY subsidizing the racetracks to the tune of some $60,000,000 per year, I’m sure he wouldn’t care if the casinos gave the tracks twice that much either, as long as the state’s share still remained unaffected.
Of course, what the tracks REALLY want (and need) are more suckers to fleece, I mean, more patrons to entertain, not more mere money. After all, how would it look if Rahm and the others all got the casinos they wanted, but everybody knows that in order to get them the casinos were being drained of let’s say a hundred million dollars a year to subsidize the continuing existence of an otherwise dying business?
It really doesn’t look good, blatantly giving them cash right out in the open like that. Much better to GIVE them casinos. That way, afterwards, it can look like they’re EARNING what was really the outright gift of a goose that lays golden eggs.
It would be better to reassure the tracks with the gift of a cash cow that will give “forever.” BTW, can I buy a few shares too? I’d GLADLY put my money where my mouth is. What’s the minimum investment? I’d love to be even a part-owner of a casino! Where do I sign up?
Comment by Mighty M. Mouse Wednesday, Oct 26, 11 @ 1:22 pm
No , if it’s not a genuine proposed bill it should not be present.
Comment by x ace Wednesday, Oct 26, 11 @ 1:26 pm
At some point you are either in the game or you live with the consequences. When you are supposed to be a leader, using the ‘this is what they gave me’ explanation looks very weak.
Comment by zatoichi Wednesday, Oct 26, 11 @ 1:27 pm
First rule of the schoolyard is don’t make threats you can’t follow thru on. Corollary rule: Don’t ask questions you don’t already know the answers to, and don’t make suggestions to changes in a bill you’re not willing to then sign off on. They are calling Pat’s bluff.
Comment by Newsclown Wednesday, Oct 26, 11 @ 1:30 pm
x ace, it is a genuine bill.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Oct 26, 11 @ 1:33 pm
I’m not really sure what Quinn is doing. Having said that, if he truly doesn’t want to expand gambling, he really doesn’t have to do anything.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Oct 26, 11 @ 1:34 pm
While I am not a proponent of casino gambling at all, I do not understand why a racetrack wouldn’t be an ideal place to have slots.
The $60,000,0000 a year figure is 100% wrong beyond question.
According to Harnessracing.com the Illinois Harness Horseman Association have noted that the insufficient money that would go to racing has 85% going to the track owners and 15% assigned for purse money.
This is so typical of Illinois and is criminal though not illegal.
Comment by Avy Wednesday, Oct 26, 11 @ 1:35 pm
“Make My Day”
Wasn’t that the Blagoofian motto right before the G slapped the cuffs on
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Wednesday, Oct 26, 11 @ 1:36 pm
Yes, even tho it’s a charade and everyone knows it will fail. It enables the issue to move forward to resolution. If the Chicago casino is linked to slots at the tracks, the Mayor will have to work behind the scenes on persuading the Governor, who IMO would be fine with no gambling expansion at all.
Comment by Rudy Wednesday, Oct 26, 11 @ 1:41 pm
===The $60,000,0000 a year figure is 100% wrong beyond question.===
I stand by the figure of approximately $60 million per year, and if you don’t believe me, ask the governor’s office. He gets bad mouthed every which way from Sunday, but very few people go so far as to call him a liar. Say what you will, he is widely reputed to be at least honest.
I repeat, the subsidy is now about $60MM per year.
Comment by Mighty M. Mouse Wednesday, Oct 26, 11 @ 1:51 pm
if the governor is going to “lead” by press release, perhaps he should start watching his own press conferences.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Wednesday, Oct 26, 11 @ 1:57 pm
Why not roll his actual proposals into a bill if he won’t do it? Seems odd to me to be denying they’re his ideas, and to have the staff declaiming it. It will be a vote on his *actual* proposals, right?
If he doesn’t like the outcome, he should get into the game earlier, just like the big boys.
Poor Pat.
Comment by Ray del Camino Wednesday, Oct 26, 11 @ 1:58 pm
$60 million is incorrect. A large payment this year was made because casino owners filed suit against the bill and the case dragged on for years with no money going to the tracks. Finally this year, the courts have ruled for the tracks and one large payment represented several years of casino revenue.
The tracks now are supposed to be receiving 15% from just the newly opened 10th casino license in Des Plaines, No money has been transferred yet and the method of transfer may be a problem as in the past due to poorly written laws and appeals from the casinos.
The money allocated to go to racing in the new bill has 85% going to the racetrack owners and only 15% going to the horsemen in the form of purse money.
Comment by Avy Wednesday, Oct 26, 11 @ 2:02 pm
===The tracks now are supposed to be receiving 15% from just the newly opened 10th casino license in Des Plaines===
So just let the racetracks “wet their beaks” to the tune of 20%, or 30%, or whatever it takes to satiate the desire of the tracks for (yet more) money. Take more and more away from the casinos and give it to the tracks until they relent and agree to drop their opposition and let Chicago and the other cities have a casino, too.
Comment by Mighty M. Mouse Wednesday, Oct 26, 11 @ 2:19 pm
Dear Governor Quinn:
You’ve made a career out of throwing grenades at political opponents and ideas. However, now that you’re the governor of Illinois it’s important to remember to let go of the grenade after you pull the pin…then your pronouncements won’t explode in your face. Best wishes otherwise, CSI.
Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Wednesday, Oct 26, 11 @ 2:22 pm
Do you think the gov’s opposition to his own plan increases its chances of passing?
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Wednesday, Oct 26, 11 @ 2:32 pm
If you don’t have a plan you may wind up part of someone else’s plan. The Gov had an opinion but no plan, so it is fair that Cullerton took Quinn’s opinion into consideration in his plan. He should have worked the bill not the press.
Comment by Alexander cut the knot. Wednesday, Oct 26, 11 @ 2:43 pm
Are there enough votes to simply override Quinn’s expected veto of the gambling bill?
Comment by Stooges Wednesday, Oct 26, 11 @ 3:02 pm
MF - yes, the more he complains the more votes it gets
The only difference between Blago and Quinn is that Blago demonized those who opposed him and gamed the system for personal gain.
Quinn isn’t in it for personal gain, but he does foolishly demonize those who oppose him but isn’t strategic enough (i.e. smart enough) to figure out how to politically finesse any sort of positive outcomes.
Comment by siriusly Wednesday, Oct 26, 11 @ 3:04 pm
Well when you share what you want in a gaming bill two weeks before the veto session what do you expect?
Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Oct 26, 11 @ 4:24 pm
That bruise on Gov. Quinn’s forehead is from his own apparent slapping everytime he has a “doh” moment.
Comment by Bitterman Wednesday, Oct 26, 11 @ 4:29 pm
I just don’t understand why Quinn keeps making the same mistakes that Blagojevich made, and he makes it over and over and over again.
Comment by Just Me Wednesday, Oct 26, 11 @ 4:36 pm
It doesn’t matter what the Senate does, the governor will veto, then claim he’s the only one who can craft legislation on gambling. Right now, he’s on a power trip, evidenced by his recent behavior with other legislation, various threats to take drastic action.
Comment by Wensicia Wednesday, Oct 26, 11 @ 4:51 pm
After reading the Updates….
Does Quinn need to read the definition of ‘govern’ and/or ‘leadership’ again?
Well, hopefully ‘again’.
Comment by sal-says Wednesday, Oct 26, 11 @ 5:06 pm
I get it now.
The General Assembly is sure they face a certain veto, so they think it will look a lot better if instead of sending their bill to the governor to be vetoed, instead they mock up a draft of what his ideas would look like just so they can gang up and clobber that bill like a pinata, sort of giving them the satisfaction of going home and kicking the dog after a hard day at the office.
I can understand that. If it makes them feel better, why not? Why do they have to give the governor the satisfaction of vetoing their cherished bill. They don’t. Good for them.
They don’t get what they want and the governor doesn’t get the pleasure of vetoing their bill. Sounds fair to me. Why all the whining?
What’s the big deal if the governor doesn’t want slots at the tracks? The legislators are acting like at its core, that’s what the true, driving force behind this entire bill really was all along!
And to think I thought it was Rahm. Silly me.
Comment by Mighty M. Mouse Wednesday, Oct 26, 11 @ 6:56 pm
More than three years remaining in his term. Can’t blame me.
Comment by Park Wednesday, Oct 26, 11 @ 7:14 pm
Does this remind anybody else of the Blagojevich forces telling their allies to vote against the Governor’s value added tax so it would go down unanimously, and then saying it was a great day?
When do the recall petitions start going around?
Comment by jake Wednesday, Oct 26, 11 @ 7:32 pm
My response was going to be… and Homer Simpson beat me to it with the first post. Have read all of the comments, and the response is still “Why not?”
Comment by downstate commissioner Wednesday, Oct 26, 11 @ 8:21 pm
Of course. Despite the tortured path, that’s how any Gov proposal would go—the Gov’s staff meets with a legislator and staff to draft a bill which the legislator then introduces. Last I looked the gov is not a member of the GA and has to have a member actually sponsor the bill. So if we assume the bill is an honest effort to embody the Gov’s wishes, what’s the problem?
There’s some grandstanding going on from the Gov’s side, methinks.
Comment by Marty Thursday, Oct 27, 11 @ 10:56 am